Sunday 30 August 2015 11:42, UK
Valencia have completed the signing of defender Aymen Abdennour from Monaco after the Tunisia international put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the La Liga club.
According to reports, the 26-year-old had been linked with a switch to the Premier League this summer with Chelsea and West Ham among the clubs interested in him.
But Abdennour has shunned a potential move to England in favour of a switch to Spain and said, in addition to joining the "best league in the world", he was delighted to join the project at Valencia.
"I chose Valencia CF out of all the offers I received, because it is a big club in Spain and Europe," Abdennour told the club's official website.
"I had no doubts. I am happy to be here and to be part of an ambitious and serious project, and I would like to thank the technical staff, Lay Hoon and Peter Lim.
"I will give my all to have a good season with my new team-mates. Everyone knows Valencia CF because they have won a lot of trophies. I am delighted to be joining the best league in the world and hope to play well for the team."
Abdennour was brought to Europe by Werder Bremen, initially on loan from Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel, before joining Toulouse.
He moved to Monaco on loan in January 2014 and earned a permanent switch to the principality club as his stock rose.
Valencia chairwoman Lay Hoon Chan added: "Aymen is one of the best defenders in Europe, strong and young with big potential. I am happy that he has shown great interest and commitment in our project at the very first moment."
